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Friday, December 31, 2010

We had a team outing from our office on 29-Dec-2010. Once in each quarter of a year, we can have a team outing. And this quarter we had only couple of days to end. So we decided to have the team outing by 29-Dec-2010.

Going for a movie after having lunch is our usual for team outings. Most of us were not interested in doing so. In particular, I hate movie halls for team outing.

I wish team outings should increase/better the bonding between peoples in a team. Team outing should act as a catalyst to increase the team's performance. The performance of a team lies on team work. Team work is the secret for success. In my opinion, team outings shall comprise of games that needs team work so that people learn to work together by playing together.

Even though we are aware of the above said importance of team outing, for some reasons we followed our usual agenda.

We decided for a lunch and the movie 'Tron:legacy'. We booked our tickets for the movie at Express Avenue (Chennai) for the 16:15 Hrs show. We were at Express Avenue around 15:00 Hrs. Since we couldn't find a good restaurant over there, we finished our lunch at KFC. And we were at the movie hall with 3D glasses around 16:15 Hrs on time. By 18:30 Hrs, we were returning home successfully finishing our team outing.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

After some surfing on internet and discussions within my friends circle, I decided to take on the route to Srikalahasthi via Tada. Note, there are other couple of ways to Srikalahasthi from Chennai. I opted the route via Tada for the distance is less and also till Tada we can enjoy the four-lane road.

We (5 members) started from Shollinganallur, Chennai-119 around 7:00 Hrs IST 24-Dec-2010 on our new ford figo. We reached Srikalahasthi around 10:30 Hrs IST. In-between we had a break of around 40 Mins for our break-fast. Since the route is new to us, we thought it would be very hard locating hotels. So we carried the breakfast made home from Chennai.

We were there inside the temple for around three hours. We did the Rahu And Ketu pooja during the Rahu Kalam (which is considered auspicious). For doing this pooja, we took a ticket for Rs. 1000 at the entrance of the temple. On purchasing the ticket, we were given the bags with materials to perform pooja. For Rs.1000, at max two persons can do a pooja. At the end of the pooja, we were asked to pay Rs. 101 as dakshana.

It is around 13:30 Hrs, when we came out of the temple. And it is time for the lunch. We had lunch in a hotel opposite to the temple (i hope the hotel named saravana bhavan). We had meals and that is quite good.

We started our return journey by 14:30 Hrs. The same route via Tada. We reached Shollinganallur, Chennai-119 by 18:00 Hrs.

Distance metrics

The distance metrics mentioned below are based on my car's (ford figo) odometer.

Chennai (Koyembedu) to Srikalahasthi via Tada = 116 Kms

Chennai (Koyembedu) to Tada = 68 Kms

Tada to Srikalahasthi = 48 Kms

Note: As we started from Shollinganallur (Chennai-119), we had to include the distance of 28 Kms between Shollinganallur and Koyembedu.

Direction to Srikalahasthi from Chennai (Koyembedu)

From Chennai (Koyembedu) get on the Jawaharlal Nehru road. Travel towards north, crossing the Poonamalle High road.

After a 10 Km drive from Koyembedu on the Jawaharlal Nehru road, turn left to get on the NH5 road. This is the road that will take you to Tada. This is a four-lane road. You will find a toll-gate after a 10 Km drive from the point where you get on NH5 road.

After a 48 Km drive from the toll-gate, you will enter Tada from where you need to take a left turn to Srikalahasthi.

After a 48 Km drive from Tada, you will enter Srikalahasthi

Note: The distance in Kms I have mentioned are based on the odometer of my car (ford figo). Actual figure may vary.

Points to take care on road

Beware of the lorry traffic on the Chennai-to-Tada four-lane road. You may often encounter lorries coming opposite on your lane.

Beware of the speed breakers on the Tada-to-Srikalahasthi road. Though the road is good, the speed breakers on this road are sure to pamper your car if not proper care is taken. I used ford figo. And I was very serious on caring the speed breakers. Inspite of that, my car got the beat on couple of spead breakers. The following pictures would give a better view:

Tolls

Toll for the NH5 road to Tada. There is a toll-gate at 20 Kms from Koyembedu on the way to Tada. My ford figo is charged with Rs 32 for a single journey.

Toll for the road to the entrance of Srikalahasthi temple. My ford figo is charged with Rs 40 for the same.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Last week on 04-Dec-2010, I took my parents to Apollo hospitals on Greams road, Chennai for Master health check-up. It's around 4 years since I took my father to Apollo hospitals, Madurai for Master health check-up.

After surfing enough on the net regarding the health check-up packages, I got the link to Apollo hospitals, Chennai. The site details on the various health check-up packages. I opted for the Master health check-up package for my parents. I called the Apollo hospitals over the mobile for booking only to find that no booking is required. We were asked to report at the hospitals by 6:45 Hrs to 7:00 Hrs IST on empty stomach.

We were there at Apollo hospitals at 6:50 Hrs IST. As required, we were there with empty stomach. Even no coffee or tea. The health check-ups are done at the Sindoori block of Apollo hospitals. After the initial formalities such as registration and payment of fees, the check-up started-off. I payed Rs 7700 as fee for my parents. I.e. Rs 3850 for an individual. During the registration, I was said that the report would be ready only by the day after tomorrow. Since my parents were to board the train the next day, I asked them to provide the reports by the next day.

The tests got over by 12:00 Hrs IST. After all the tests, as part of the package, my parents were offered complementary lunch. That day just the data on our body was collected. The data are processed for information and provided as report the next day.

My observation on the days at Apollo hospitals for master health check-up of my parents:

1. I could hardly see the hospitality with the nurses. May be they got bored of that over the period.

2. Initially I was asked to collect the reports after a day. I.e. We did the check-up by Saturday. They asked us to collect the reports and consult the doctor by Monday. As my parents were to board the train by Sunday evening, I asked them to prepone the consultation date by Sunday. But the staff over there said that the presence of my parents is not required as I can collect the reports and consult the doctor for my parents on Monday.

How could I have the consultation instead of parents? Who would be better at presenting what one feels about his body? The patient or the one who accompanies him. If I were to do the consultation, I have to just listen what the doctor says based on the reports. I.e. One-way communication. But if my parents are there in my place, there would be two-way communication which would be better.

I disliked this aspect of Apollo hospitals. But however I got preponed the consultation date to Sunday.

3. I could see many elderly people struggling on locating the counters they were asked to report. The staffs guidance for the same is very poor. Mostly they give some hand signals or some words with very little care.

Thursday, December 09, 2010

TIG is a tool that would help you in being humble. For one, his behaviour is the reflection of his ego.

Ego develops into one, as the thought of superiority grows inside him. When superiority grows inside one? Superiority grows, as one starts to think that whatever he achieves is only because of him. I.e. He own the sole credits for what he achieved/earned. And there-by not acknowledging the factors that influenced his success. Such a behavior would certainly raise the superiority in him.

Superiority heightens the ego. I.e. Superiority is directly proportional to ego. And since ego is indirectly proportional to humbleness, it makes an individual arrogant.

So for one, who is arrogant as such, to be humble, can use the tool TIG. TIG expands to Trust In God. This tool educates that there is an external power/force which is the most superior of all. This education would reduce the thought of superiority (and hence ego) in oneself, which in-turn make him humble.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A week before (by 13-Nov-2010), after we took over our new figo car, we went to Maelmaruvathur and Vaedanthangal. This is an unplanned trip. Decided just a day before.

There were two reasons, first is my desire to take the car for a long drive and the second is my wife who wanted to visit the Maelmaruvathur for a long time. After having breakfast, we started-off the trip from Shollinganallur, Chennai-119 (where we reside). Maelmaruvathur is exactly 82 Kms from Shollinganallur and 66 Kms from Tambaram.

We reached Mealmaruvathur after a ~90 mins drive. The drive was a pleasure one as the new figo is good at road. Especially the pick-up of the car at 2nd and 3rd gear is exceptional. After a brief 40-45 mins over Mealmaruvathur, we started-off to Vedanthangal.

There are two ways to Vedanthangal. One, from Tambaram after a 45 Kms drive on the GST road towards Maelmaruvathur, there is a right turn towards Vaedanthangal. Vaedanthangal is at 12 Kms from there. Second, from Maelmaruvathur after a 12 Kms to 14 Kms drive on the GST road towards Chennai, there is a left turn towards Vaedanthangal. Vaedanthangal is at 12 Kms to 14 Kms from there.

Since we were from Maelmaruvathur, we took the second route. The road is not that good, but not bad. Since the season has just started by November (as the season time of Vaedanthangal is November to February), there is no much visitors. Also we were not charged with the entry fee.

Though there were birds, we couldn't grace them as we didn't take binoculars with us.

After spending few minutes over there, we started to Shollinganallur. By that time it was 14:00 Hrs and we were hungry. We searched hotels on the way, only to find one after Chengalpattu on the GST road (as we didn't enter into Chengalpattu). The food is ok. I don't remember the name of it. Should have noted it down. We returned back to Shollinganallur by 16:00 Hrs. Having somemore time, we went to Thiruvanmayur beach to end the day.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Today we brought home our new ford figo. White color, looking very beautiful. And we are happy on possessing it.

We were at the showroom by 9:30 Hrs IST today to take the car. After all the formalities, we got the car by 10:25 Hrs IST. Its a diesel car. Felt good on the power and the looks of the car (as I had experienced only a Hyundai Santro car for the past three years). To our family, this is the second one. The elder one is a Hyundai Santro Xing XL.

I am happy over the features of the Ford Figo as our Santro didn't have those features. Yes, this beauty is the high end model of its variant. Experiencing them for the first time thrills me.

This time I am very happy than the time we took our Santro. This is because when we took Santro, we arranged for a driver for taking the car to home. None of us (myself, my younger brother and my father) know driving. This time it is not the same. I myself taking the car from the showroom.

Since today is a working day I had to go straight office from the showroom. Hence I am worried about the rituals (taking car to some temple/doing some poojas) that would be done for a new car. But these ford guys took care of that. They themselves did a pooja for the car before it was delivered to me.

Took the car on road. And it seemed everyone (who saw the car on its way) wishing me - "Happy Driving!".

Thursday, November 11, 2010

This deepavali was a special one for us (myself and my wife) as this was our thala deepavali. We went to my native by 03rd of November. And by 4th of November we reached my wife's native.

On deepavali day, I did oil bath, attended the pooja, weared new dress and ofcourse blasted crackers! Even though the deepavali releases were not that good, as a ritual we went for a deepavai release movie Uthamaputhiran. The movie didn't disappoint us as we know already about that movie.

This time I got good time to play cricket with my cousins. And we returned back to Chennai by 08th of November.

Friday, August 20, 2010

I completed my MBA (Distance Education) under Anna University by 2009 (SET 1). But I haven't yet collected my provisional certificate, consolidated statement of mark sheet, my degree certificate and the refund of my caution deposit of Rs. 5000 (made at the time of joining). For more than one year, I haven't applied or think about the same ;-).

By last Saturday (14-Aug-2010), I applied for my provisional certificate, consolidated statement of mark sheet and the refund of my caution deposit. Degree certificate can be received only after we get the provisional certificate and the consolidated statement of mark sheet.

Provisional certificate and consolidated statement of mark sheet:

To apply for provisional certificate and consolidated statement of mark sheet, I submitted the following to the Deputy Controller of Examinations (Distance Education), Anna University Chennai, Chennai - 600025.

attested photocopy of bachelor degree certificate

duly filled application form for provisional certificate and consolidated statment of mark sheet

Thursday, July 29, 2010

There are situations in which we might face people with venomous behaviors towards us. These behaviors hurt us while we are at the receiving end. Most often we struggle on thinking - how to cope people with such behavior?

We are on road. We see barking dogs, buffaloes creating traffic, stenchy pigs and so on. Its sure that we do bother on this. But have you ever been hurt because of these. No, because here our least bother would be - we should do away from these. And not on why they do at us. This is because we are aware that they are made so. I.e. we very well understand that here its the birth, the situation and the environment defines the behavior on them.

We can apply the same in the case of people whose behavior tend to hurt us. We should understand them. We should understand that the behavior of these people is defined by their birth, the situation and the environment they grew-up/live. This understanding would provide us the knowledge on the distance we should maintain from these people. Failing to understand this, we are to continue in trouble.